Machine for making cement or concrete blocks.



No. 805,914. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905. J. HOER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT CR CONCRETE BLOCKS.

v APPLIOATION FILED JUNBB, 1905.

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N0. 805,914. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

J. NCEE. MACHINE ECE MAKINC CEMENT CE CCNCEETE ELCCNS.

A'IPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1905.

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No. 805,914. PATEN'IED NOV. 28.1 1905.

J. HORR. MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT OR CONCRETE BLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1905. y

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Unifran- STATES PATENT "OFFICE-.I

JACOB HOER, OF MEcHANicsBURG, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CEMENT OR CONCRETE BLOCKS- i No. 805,914.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2s, 1905.

Application filed June 8, lOfi. Serial No. 264,214.

' To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JACOB Henn, wcit zen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsburg, in the county of Champaign and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Cement or Concrete Blocks, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

` This invention relates to machines for' making cement or concret-e blocks, and has for its O bject to provide a simple and eliicient apparatus whereby blocks of concrete, cement, or

' cementitious material may be readily and inexpensively produced, such blocks being compact, homogeneous, and free .from flaws or cavities and having, if desired, one or more of their faces molded in ornamental relief to imitate rough-dressed stone or otherwise.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a'perspective view showinga machine embodying my invention in one form, the position of the parts being that which they assume durinn,l the operation of tamping the concrete.

Fig. 2- is a similar view showing the apparatus in the position which the parts assume after the operation of forming the block is completed and just prior 4to the removal of the -block from the machine. Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the position of the parts after' the operation of tam ping is com plated, but before the stripping of the block from the mold. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line :1 a; of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a detail view, being an inverted plan section taken on the line jy y of F ig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 6 is adetail view of the handpieces 6, the upper ends of the uprights being reduced to form tenons which extend upward through and beyond the cross-pieces', as indicated at 7, this reduction of the ends of the uprights forming shoulders on which the crosspieces rest. The cross-pieces 6 are twcparalle! pieces, separated by a space or opening 8, which serves to guide the stem of the tamping-plunger. This stem (indicated by the reference-nnmeral 9) passes up through the guiding-space 8 and may be provided with a weight 9 at its upper end to give the rstroke of the plunger the desired force. The tain ping-plunger comprises, in addition to the stem 9, a;

cross-head 10, to which the lowereud of the stem is attached, the ends of said cross-head extending into the grooves or spaces 5 between the guiding-uprights 4, so that the crosshead is guided against lateral displacement, said cross-head also having guide-block .-,11 secured on both sides of it at each end and bearing against the inner faces of the uprights 4 I to guide the cross-head against displacement in the direction of its length.l 'The cross-head further comprises a stop 12, which may be in the form of a board or plate, secured to the under side of the vertical body of the crosshead 10, apertured for the passage of the uprights 4 and having a width greater than the interior width of the mold-body.

lindicates the head proper of the tampingplunger, which is secured to the under side of the stop 12 and is of dimensions such as to adapt it to enter the mold-body. The tamping-plunger is freely movable vertically in the guideways provided for it, and for convenience in so moving it byhand the vertical body of the cross-head may be provided with hand-holes 14. In the practical operation of the plunger, howeven-it is operated by means of a treadle mounted in the lower the machine. to the crosszhead chains or other flexible connections 15, -said connection being preferably eii'ected by eyes16 on the cross-head and hooks 17 on the ends of the chains. These chains pass upthrough the space 8 between the crosspieces 6 and over pulleys 18, which are mounted between the upper ends 7 of the uprights 4. Said chains pass thence downward through the table 1, near-.each end thereof, and are connected to the free ends of bars19, forming part of the treadle-frame. These bars are pivotcd at their rear ends on bolts 20, which pass through the rear ends of the portion of. To this end there are connectedv ICO los

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cross-pieces 3 and through extensions 21 of the legs 2. The bars 19 are connected by cross-bars 22. which. support a central footpiece or treadle proper, 23, extending tothe front of the machine. 1t will be seen that when the treadle 23 is depressed the tampingplunger will be lifted, and when said treadle is released the plunger will descend by gravity, the force ofthe blowsv delivered being regulated by the foot of the operator upon the treadle.

I provide means for locking the tampingplunger positively against vertical movement in either'direction at any point of its range of movement, and to this end there is pivoted to one of the cross-pieces 6 a cam-lever 23, havimran eccentric or cam-shaped head `which may te brought to bear against the side of the plunger-stem 5 and clamp the same against the other cross-piece 6, said locking-lever being readily disengaged to permit free movement of the plunger when desired. This construction is shown in detail in Fig. 5.

24 indicates as a whole the mold-body, comprising side pieces 25 and end pieces 2G, these latter being indicated in dotted lines in Fig.`

3. These side and end pieces are in permanent relation to each other while the machine is in operation, the-mold thus being a permanent or fixed mold, as eontradistinguished from a knockdown mold, or one in which the sides and ends are hinged or otherwise relai tively movable to permit the removal of the finished block. The mold-body embraces at its ends the upright guides 'i and is thus positioned thereby relatively to the tampingplunger and guided in its vertical movements` said mold-body being free to move vertically on said guides.. This vertical movement ot' the mold-body is effected by` means of chains or other flexible connections 27, connected at one end to the respective ends of the moldbody and passing thence upward through the space 8 between the cross-pieces 6 and around pulleys 28, mounted between said cross-pieces, which are extended laterally beyond the' uprights 4i to'receive and support said pulleys. The chains pass thence downward and are connected to drums 29, secured on a shaft 30, mounted in the frame and provided with a crank-handle 31, by means ot' which said shaft may be rotated. The tp cross-pieces 32 of the table-supporting frame carry bearingbloeks 33, in which the shaft 30 is mounted. By turning the crank 31 in one direction or' the other the mold-body 25 may be raised or lowered, as desired. AThe mold-body may be held in elevated position by any suitable means-as, for instance, a ratchet-wheel 33, secured on the shaft 30, with which coperates a pawl 33", mounted on a fixed part-as, for instance, the bearing-block 33. The moldbody is provided in its side pieces 26 with apertures 34 to receive removable eore-pieces35, which extend vtransverselyacross the cavity air may escape from under the tamping-plum' The bottom of the mold is formed-by a ger. board or plate 38, which-may rest loosely on the table 1 and which is-of larger dimensions than the mold-cavity, so-that the mold-body rests on top of said bottom board or plate.-

The top of the mold is formed. by a plate 39, which is secured to the lower end ofthe plunger-head 13, its connection being preferably a detachable one so vthat various top plates may be employed. This top plate is of a-size such as to permit it to enter and tit within the mold-body while being also capable of free vertical motion therein. The under surface of said top plateis preferably provided with a pattern such as it is desired to reproduce in relief or otherwise on the upper surface of the finished block. 4The connection between the top plate and plunger-head is preferably a detachable one, so that by providing a numthe ornamentation of the upper face of the block may be varied, as desired. In the present instance I have shown this connection as eectedby angle-pieces 40, secured to the ends of the head 13 and connected to the top plate by screws 41, so as to permit the removal and replacement of the top4 plate; but the connection may be any suitable separable one. Where it is desired to form the block ornamented on its two opposite faces, the bottom plate or board 38 may also `be provided lwith a suitable pattern on its upper surface.

Although the side and end pieces of the mold are in permanent relation to each other during the operation of the machine, the end pieces may be adjustable toward:and from each ,other to vary the length of the block, and in this ease top plates of different Ilengths will be provided to conform to the differences in length of the mold-cavities. I

The cross-pieces 32 of the supporting-frame loo are extended out beyond the table 1, such extension being made in either direction, butbeing shown in the present instance as toward the rear, as indicated at 42. These extensions 42 serve as a support for a hand-barrow 43, which may rest loosely thereon, the same being shown in detail in Fig. 6, the construction being such that when said barrow rests upon the supporting extensions its t'op is on a level with or slightly below the top of the table 1. l I

lhe machine thus constructed operates in 'thefollowing manner: The tamping-plunger' The mold-body is then partially iilled with the l I.concrete or other material of which the block drawings.

solidate the same and homogeneous.

1s to be composed, the tamping-plunger being unlocked and reciprocated vertically by means of the treadle, so as to tamp the material in the lower part of the mold and firmly con-A so as to make it compact This process is continued' until the mold is filled to the level of the lower edges of the core-apertures 34, whereupon the core-pieces 35 are inserted through said apertures into the mold-body in the position shown in Figs. -1, 3, and 4 of the lf desired, half-cores in the 4form of semicylindricalv blocks, such as are shown 2, may be placed at the ends of the mold at this time if it is desired to produce blocks having matching semicylindrical grooves or recesses at their ends, as is sometimes the case. Otherwise these half-cores may be omitted. The spaces between the core- A pieces are then filled with the composition and as before, filled to the proper height material properly tamped and compact- The tamping-plunger is thenl released, so that itirevsts upon the top of the lblock with the top plate 39 in contact with the top surface thereof. Y During the tamping operations the air in the mold-body below the descending plunger escapes through the openings 37 and 34 until these latter openings are closed by the core-pieces, whereupon the openings'37 provide an escape for the air. After the plunger the filling and tamping proceeds, until the mold is with has been lowered upon the top ofthe block after i the manner just described it is locked in said position by means of the locking-lever 23". The core-pieces 35 are then withdrawn by means of the handle 36, provided for that purpose, whereupon the mold-body 24 is free to be lifted clear of the finished block 44. This is accomplished by rotating the shaft 30 in the proper direction by means of the crank-handle 31, whereupon -the mold body will be moved upward by the chains 27, the plunger and its top plate acting as a stripper-plate to prevent the block from moving upward with the mold-body. 'lhis upward movement of the mold-body is continued until the mold cornes in contact with the stop 12, the combined vertical height of the head 13 and top plate 39 being somewhat greater than the total vertical depth of the mold-body, so that said vmold-body passes upward clear of the block before 1t strikes the stop. During this por-A tion of the operation the immovabilityof the plungerv is of the highest importance, since to move downward after the mold-body is cleared of the block the block being laterally unsupported would be crushed l or broken or pressed outof shape by. the weight of the plunger. This result is preivented by locking oi' the plunger against i vertical movement in the manner described.

l W'hen the mold-body in' its upward movement has come into contact with the stop 12, the

plunger is unlocked by releasing the grip of the locking-lever 23a on the plunger-stem, whereupon as the upward movement of the mold-body continues both mold-body and plunger are the position ythen locked shown in Fig. 2. The parts are or held in this elevated position during the removal of the block from the machine. Thisremoval is accomplished by placing the hand-barrow 43 on the supporting extensions 42, whereupon the bottom plate or board 35, with the block resting thereon, can be slid over onto said barrow, the transfer being facilitated by the fact that the top of the barrow is on a level with o r slightly below the top of the table 1, as already stated. By means of the barrow the block and bottom board may be readily carried to a suitable place of deposit, where the block may be slid onto a suitable support or rest, either along with or independently of the bottom board. In ythe former case a plurality of bottom being placed on the table 1, while in the latter case the bottom board originally used is re turned to the table, themold-body being as before.

It will be seen that bymeans of this apparatus compact blocks can be rapidly and cheaply, produced, the necessary tamping being effected by foot-power, leaving the operator the free use of his hands andthe operation of getting. the block out ofthe mold being rapidly and easily performed without any danger of crushing or deformingv the block, which is left'in a position where it can be readily disposed of to make way for another.

The apparatus is simple, inexpensive, and eficient, and readily operated.

lhave shown and described a machine for the formation of concrete or cement blocks, being relatively large masses used as substitutes for building-stone.' but itis obvious that the invention is applicable tothe manufacture of cement blocks of various sizes and shapesl such as are known, for instance, as bricks and in this latter Case a plurality of molds and plungers may mold may be subdivided by transverse partitions into compartments of the desired size, the tamping-plunger being similarly lsubdivided or a plurality of such plungers being employed. Where it is desired to ornament the ends of the block, false end pieces may be l placed within the mold against the end pieces .26, said false end'pi'ecesl having the desired patterns on their inner surfaces and -fitting loosely in the mold, the top plate extending boards are employed, another-bottom boardV be employed, or a single further lifted until they assume lowered thereon, and the operation proceeds i over them, so that when' the mold-body is lifted to strip the block the top -plate will hold the false end pieces in position against the block, from which they can be removed after the block is clear of the mold.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the principle of my invention, and 1 therefore do not wish to be,

. mounted on said'guideways, means for reising and lowering said mold-bod)7 and holding it in a raised position, a tamping-plunger vertically movable in said guideways and provided with a top plate adapted toenter and,

-fit vthe mold-body, .means for reciprocating said .tamping-plunger, and means for locking said tamping-plunger against vertical nievement in either direction at different point-s of its path, substantially as described.

2. A machine for making cement blocks, comprising a supporting-table provided with `'vertical guideways, a permanent mold-body mounted on said guideways, means for raising and lowering said mold-body and holding it in a raised position, a tamping-plunger vertically movable in said guideways and provided with a top plate adapted toenter and tit in the .mold-body, said top plate having a pattern on its under side, means for reciprocating said tamping-plunger, andv means for lock ing said tampingwplnnger 'against\ vertical movement in either direction at different points of its path, substantially described.

'3. A machine for making' cementblocks,

comprising a supporting-tableprovided with.

vertical guideways, a permanent mold-body mounted on said guideways, means for raising and lowering said mold-bodyv and holding it in a raised position, a tampingplungcr vertically movable in said guideways, a top plate detachably'connected tosaid tamping-plunger and adapted to enter and lit the mold-body, means for reciprocating said crimping-pluri ger, and means for locking said tamping-plunger against vertical moveiiientin either direction at diiercnt points of its path, suhstan tially as described.

4. A machine for making cement blocks, comprising a. supporting-table provided with vertical guideways, a permanent mold-body mounted on said giiideways, means for raising andlowering said mold-body and holdingl it in a raised position, a tainping-plunger vertically movable in said guideways :ind provided with a top plate adapted to enter and i said taniping-plunger, comprising a trea' le said tamping-plunger, and means for lockingsaid tamping-plunger against vertical movement in either direction with its top plate in contact with theiinished block within the meid. and for holding said plunger inaraised position, substantially as described.

5. A machine for making cement blocks`- comprising a supporting-table provided with vertical guideways,a permanent mold-body mounted on said guideways, means for raisit in a raised position, a removable'bottom boardor plate interposed between said mold-A bodyv and supporting-table, a tamping-plunger vertically movable in said guideways and provided with a top plate adapted to enter, and lit the mold-body, means for reciprocatingsaid tamping-plunger, and means for locking said tamping-plunger against vertical movement in either direction at different points of its path, substantially as described.

mg and lowering said mold-body and holding Q 6. A machine for making Acement blocks,

comprising a` supporting-table provided With vertical guideways, a permanent mold-body mounted on said ,guidewaya means for raising and lowering said mold-hody and holding; it in raised position, a tampingaplung'ei vertically mo'vable in said guideways and provided with a top plate adaptedztoenter and fit the mold-body, means for reciprocating said tamping-plunger, means for locking said tamping-plunger against vertical movement in either direction at different vpointsof its path, and a stop carried bylsaid plunger and arranged to be engaged by the mold-body after said mold-body has cleared the block inrits upward movement, substantially as described. 7. A machine for-making cement blocks, comprising a supporting-table provided with vertical gudeways, a permanent mold-body mounted on said guideways, means for .raising and lowering said mold-body and holding it in a raised position, said means comprising a crank-shaft supported below the table, pulleys supported on the guideways, and iiexible connections between said mold-body and crank shaft passing around said pulleys, a tampingplunger vertically movable in said gnidew-ays and provided with a top plate adapted to enter and lit the mold-body, means for'reeiproeating said tamping-plunger, and means for locking said tamping-plunger against vertical movement in either direction at different points of its path, substantially as described. 8. A machine for making cement blocks, comprising a su pporting-tablc provided with iro' vertical guideways, a permanent mold-body' ticallv movable in said guideways and provided with a top plate adapted to enter and lit the mold-body, and means 'for reciprocating alleys mounted on eeeteie the guideways9 and flexible connections between said treedle and pinnger passing' over said pulleys, substantially as describedn 9. A machine for making cement blocks, comprising' a supportingteble provided with Vertice-l guitleways, and cross-pieces connecting'eeid ,quideways` e permanent molcl-bedy mounted on seid g'ueweys and provided with menne for raising enel lowering the stimeJ1 a winning-plunger vertically movable in said guideways and having e stem extending upward between the erossfpieces., means for reciproceting'seid plunger3 and means for lockn ing seid plungere-geinst vertical movement, comprising' e ieckinglever nivotaily mounted on one of seid cross-pieces and having eamelieped or eccentric heed edepted to engage the plunger-stein and clamp the seme against the other crees-piece, substantially es described..

l0. in e machine for making cement blocks, the combination, with e, vertically-movable moldbecly and reciprocating tamping-plungera of e table provided. with guideweys for said moldbocly and plunger, and a removable bottom board or plate interposed between said mold-body end table, said table being provided with a supporting-frame having anexteneion at one side of and below the table, and e hand-barrow er the like removably supported on said extension in position to re' ceire the bottom board and completed block.,

substantially es described.

in testimony wheree` l affix my signature in 

